Tire Concerns: Desert Driving

by Bill
(Saudi Arabia)

I drive in Saudi Arabia on very hot road surfaces. My first set of Hankooks was fine. My second set has not been so good. Heat destroys the tires before tread wear does. What's the best tire to buy under these conditions?

I don't have any personal experience with desert driving, but I would tend to give preference to tires with the highest speed rating available because higher speeds also increase the amount of heat generated by tires in use ... so these tires would likely be more resistant to higher temperatures.

Another extremely important factor is tire pressure: make sure that the pressure being used is not lower than is recommended, because under pressure will increase tire temperture.

TG